Foster Comprehensive Plan Draft 2018
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COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOSTER, RHODE ISLAND – 2017-2037 ! May 2017 Executive Summary Page 1 Town of Foster, RI Comprehensive Community Plan COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOSTER, RHODE ISLAND 2017-2037 TOWN COUNCIL Denise DiFranco, President Chris Stone, Vice President Michael Dillon Cheryl Hawes Gordon Rogers PLANNING BOARD Joseph Carey, Chair Richard Sparks, Vice Chair Helen Hardy, Secretary Michael Carpenter Jeff Sheldon Anthony Renzi Ron Cervasio Planning Department ___________, Town Planner Consultant Team David R. Westcott, AICP DRAFTNancy E. Letendre, Esq., AICP Benjamin Delaney TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................1 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................1 FOSTER TODAY .............................................................................................1 PUBLIC SURVEY .............................................................................................1 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING IN FOSTER ................................................................3 NATURAL RESOURCES, CONSERVATION & RECREATION ..................................................7 INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................7 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER CHAPTERS ....................................................................7 EXISTING CONDITIONS .......................................................................................8 NATURAL RESOURCE AREAS MAP......................................................................... 8 WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................................12 Map XX shows water resources in Foster. Two-thirds of Foster drains to the Scituate Reservoir, a regional public water supply. Both inside and outside the reservoir's watershed are valuable streams and rivers that are important to the town's scenic qualities and natural habitats. All residents rely on groundwater for potable water. Many of these water resources are connected; all can be threatened by inappropriate development or poorly designed or maintained septic systems. Although the water quality in the town is generally good, there have been localized problem areas (groundwater contamination) and indications of potential problems (apparent degradation of ponds). Federal, State, and local agencies regulate many of the resources and constraints. However, current regulations, including local regulations, should be improved to provide better protection of the natural resources. Federal and State regulations may not always be applied or enforced consistently. Many of the Town's current regulations do not apply to frontage development or do not focus on protecting specific resources. ................................................12 NATURAL RESOURCES AND NATURAL RESOURCE AREAS .............................................12 EXISTING CONSERVATION AREAS ........................................................................15 CONSERVATION REGULATIONS ..........................................................................17 Current Regulations and Programs ....................................................................17 RECREATIONAL RESOURCES .............................................................................18 Recreation Programs..................................................................................... 20 NATURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT .......................................................................21 STATEWIDE AND LOCAL ISSUES .........................................................................21 Water Resource Protection .............................................................................21 Agricultural Land .........................................................................................21 Degrading Natural Resources ...........................................................................24 OPPORTUNITIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION & RECREATION .................................................................................................25 Priorities for Conservation of Natural Resources ....................................................25 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND ACTIONS CONCERNING NATURAL RESOURCES ...............27 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES .................................................................32 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................32 CURRENT CONDITIONS .....................................................................................32 ACTIVE PRESERVATION ...................................................................................32 NATIONALLY REGISTERED HISTORIC PLACES ..........................................................34 ADDITIONAL PLACES OF SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................36 PROJECTED CONDITIONS ...................................................................................40 ANTICIPATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS ......................................................................40 FUTURE CHALLENGES ....................................................................................41 ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTED CONDITIONS ...............................................................42 COMMUNITY VALUE .......................................................................................42 ECONOMIC VALUE ........................................................................................43 i OVERLAY ZONING .........................................................................................44 GUIDE AND MANAGEMENT PLANS ......................................................................44 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND ACTIONS ...........................................................46 POPULATION .................................................................................................50 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................50 CURRENT CONDITIONS .....................................................................................50 DEMOGRAPHICS ...........................................................................................50 HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS ........................................................................52 PROJECTED CONDITIONS ...................................................................................53 POPULATION PROJECTIONS, 2015-2040 ...............................................................53 DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES, 2015-2040 ..................................................................54 ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTED CONDITIONS ...............................................................55 CHANGES IN HOUSEHOLDS ..............................................................................55 COMMUNITY SERVICES & FACILITIES ......................................................................56 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................56 Relationship to Other Chapters ........................................................................57 EXISTING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................57 Municipal Administration ...............................................................................57 PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT..................................................... 58 Department of Public Works ...........................................................................61 School Systems ...........................................................................................61 Human Services ..........................................................................................63 Solid Waste Disposal .....................................................................................64 ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES ...............................................65 GOALS, OBJECTIVES, POLICIES AND ACTIONS CONCERNING COMMUNITY SERVICES & FACILITIES .. 66 NATURAL HAZARDS .........................................................................................70 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................70 RELATIONSHIP TO THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ..................................................70 EXISTING CONDITIONS ......................................................................................70 FLOODING .................................................................................................71 Hurricanes & Tornadoes .................................................................................72 WINTER STORMS ..........................................................................................73 DROUGHT ..................................................................................................73 EXTREME TEMPERATURES ...............................................................................74 EARTHQUAKES ............................................................................................74 CLIMATE CHANGE .........................................................................................75 RISK PRIOITIZATION ......................................................................................75 NATURAL HAZARD AREAS MAP ..........................................................................81